292 r>ETTAIN FOK THE BRITON 



power, or pla}' wiih it to suit their own purposes : but, whether 

 they realise it or not, it will assert itself sooner or later and 

 shatter to pieces the flimsy barriers that both one and the other 

 have set up against its natural develo}nuont and doniinatinc; 

 influence, as surely as the stars come nightly to the skies to 

 remind ns of their existence. 



Landowners have it in their power to save the situation by 

 taking the initiative with Governments, and the latter have it 

 in their power to force tlie landowner to do that whicli is right 

 if he proves recalcitrant. If neither of them will do the right 

 tiling, then it is certain that in the fulness of time Socialism 

 will step in and give to the people, by revolutionary methods, 

 that measure of universal prosperity which present-day arbiters 

 of the position might have brought about by more peaceful 

 means. The Liberal-Unionists affirm that the old Liberal 

 party is dead, and that the political arena of the country is 

 now occupied by themselves and the Socialists; but whether 

 this estimate of the position is right or wrong, it must be 

 admitted that Socialism has made vast progress during the last 

 few years and that it is a progressive movement. Socialism 

 being, then, a considerable factor in the political situation, it 

 has to be reckoned with as a possible dominating factor in 

 national affairs. A Socialist Administration thus becomes a 

 possible quantity. Landowners, although not quite between 

 " the Devil and the deep sea," have, therefore, to choose between 

 one of the Governments of the present time and a possible 

 Socialist Administration in the near future. Let them make 

 the choice. 



